Take heart, Cranbrook

A project to make Cranbrook a pioneering community of life-savers is to be launched by the parish council.

Peter North, chairman of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council, wants to place defibrillators around the town.

Anyone would be able to use the equipment if people were having suspected heart attacks. Mr North said that the council had originally received a request from a local group to fund one defibrillator for the community.

Mr North said: "What we decided to do instead is – the parish council will buy maybe three defibrillators and put them at various points around the town, such as the Vestry Hall.

"The modern defibrillators can be used without any training. "They can tell if you are having a heart attack or not, and are so easy to use."

He hoped the life-saving devices, which cost around £1,000 each, would be in place within the first half of the year.

"This year, a man had a heart attack in the High Street, and he survived as luckily there was an off-duty paramedic with a defibrillator nearby.

"A former councillor's life was also saved thanks to one of these machines being nearby.

"We have an ageing population and I think it is important to have these measures in place so they can get the treatment that they need as soon as possible."

Mr North's proposal was backed by members at the December parish council meeting. Councillor Francis Rook said: "The thing about emergencies is that you never know when they will appear, so I think it's a good idea."